ARCHIVE CARETAKER FELLOWSHIP
The Archive Caretaker Fellowship, is a 3-month program aimed at empowering the intuition and curiosity of local artists, thinkers, and doers. Brought to you in co-operation with Meet The Youngs, each individual will have the opportunity to explore overlooked histories, unimagined futures, and contemporary solutions in fellowship with caretakers.
Program Overview
The Archive Caretaker Fellowship supports individuals as they continue a multidisciplinary practice and build new skills, figure out how to create change through co-operation, and produce research, material artifacts, and multimedia journals. Our mission through this collective approach to contemporary studies is to remember intuition — being present with community in study allows us to see the precedent that was set in the past and see beyond the boundaries of what can become in the future.
For our founding cohort, the idea that will ground our study is “Be A Builder — Not A Beggar” a word of advice from the OAAU’s 10 point-plan and a needed reflection amid stay-at-home orders as we reimagine how we live in, own, and build decent and affordable housing for the people.
Timing
The fellowship program extends for 12 weeks beginning with an orientation on October 1, 2020 and concluding with a closing presentation on December 19, 2020. Caretakers will remotely gather once a week on Saturdays at 2pm to share in practice and learn with one another. Applications will be accepted until September 24, 2020 at 11:59pm PST.
Final Presentation
Participating archive caretakers are asked to produce and present at least 10 research notes, 1 material artifact, and 1 multimedia journal throughout the course of the 12-week program. The studies will be archived through ITS-IN-SCOPE and presented publicly in the closing presentation. Individuals may elect to develop their documentations collectively with members of the cohort, independently, or collaboratively with people outside of the cohort.
Cooperative Economics
Each fellow will be provided a 400 USD monthly stipend as a general investment in their wellbeing and expression practice. The costs of production for the material artifacts will be covered wholly or partially by ITS-IN-SCOPE. Upon publishing their material artifact, up to 70% of net profits will be retained by the individual archive caretaker; and at least 30% of profits are to be invested in local IP (Impact Providers).
Accessibility
Our program is open to the people in our neighborhood of one, the artists, the organizers, and the neighbors, the thinkers, the doers, and the learners who bridge differences with oneness. In co-operation with Meet The Youngs, if you’re able to join our fellowship program remotely, are over 18 years-old, and can receive the monthly stipend through PayPal you’re welcome to apply below.
Note: We will be giving preferential treatment to friends and family, to members of our immediate community, all of those who’ve been active and involved with The Youngs since the jump.
Fellowship Application
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the fellowship experience like?
The fellowship should be playful, thought-provoking, and truthful. I’m expecting it to be time well spent and quite unexpected — also this is the first time we’re doing this so we’ll see! Building the plane while we fly it.
What are Contemporary Studies?
Our archival practice is grounded in an intersectional practice of studying social issues and their relativity to one another known as Contemporary Studies. There are seven degrees of study (for now), each of which serves as an archive in its own right, in no particular order they are: Space, Post-Colonialism, Love, Time, Technology, Movement, Nature.
What is a Material Artifact?
A material artifact is a physical object designed to retain the findings from contemporary studies and inform continued conversation. This could be anything from a t-shirt to a textbook. When artifacts are published and sold, a % of profits are reinvested in local Impact Providers.
What is a Multimedia Journal?
A multimedia journal is a contemporary study archived through photo, video, or audio. This form allows us to escape the written word, honor oral tradition, and craft new audiovisual languages. Outputs could be a series of photos, a recorded conversation, a DJ set, or a short film.
What are Research Notes?
Written context for contemporary studies — this mix of ancestral and intuitive documentation is curated in support of figuring it out together. Notes may include key takeaways from archival video footage, essays in response to academic papers, personal reflections, and more.
How many fellows are there?
We’re awaiting grant funding that will help determine an answer but there will be somewhere between 2 and 8 individuals fellowshipping within our founding program.
Do I need an advanced degree or a particular experience?
There are absolutely no degree requirements, might actually have a slight preference for individuals who are self-taught or graduates from YouTube university. The only experience needed is comfortability with a DIY practice.
Is there a *right* time and motivation to do the Fellowship?
I would say the best time is when you’re in a season of focus and flow, no longer resisting your instinct and now making the turn to be more consistent with your practice and to stay linked up with others on the same page. That’s why I’m doing it.
What is the time commitment?
The fellowship will take place over a 12 week window with a 2-3 hr commitment every Saturday at 2pm. Beyond that, the amount of time invested by an individual is a personal decision — you’ll get out what you put in.
How are fellows identified and selected?
Myself and a small advisory board (a couple trusted homies) will review submissions and see who’s invested in tapping in but also what would be a critical mix of skillsets and interest areas.
When will the next fellowship be selected?
Our intention is for this fellowship to be offered quarterly so ideally new applications would go live in late-December for our Q1 2021 Fellowship. We share that timing as we speak grant funding into existence.
Why did you create the Archive Caretaker Fellowship?
With ambitions of organizing ITS-IN-SCOPE as a cooperative, I understand competition to be a tool of colonialism and want to invest in and collaborate with “competing” artists, researchers, and designers as much as I can. A fellowship program seemed fly and incredibly practical for activating the values of this archival practice by demonstrating how a personal practice can double as an investment in community.
What is an Archive Caretaker and am I one of those?
Inadvertently, we all are one in some way or another, I’m interested in how we increase our level of intentionality within this role. When we remember the body is an archive, by taking care of ourselves, our memories, and nurturing our intution we’re being an Archive Caretaker. If we then give ourselves the freedom to consider what we always have through new forms (sounds) or practices (sewing) we find old truths.
What’s the ecosystem behind this?
The fellowship program is available through Meet The Youngs, a post-internet ecosystem for artists, organizers, and neighbors to experience self-expression and community organizing in our neighborhood. This organic platform has connected over 1,000 individuals through 17 physical meetings and a virtual artistic portal.
How can I ask more questions?
Send an email to itsinscope@gmail.com if you have any additional questions about the Archive Caretaker Fellowship program.